City Diary – The Delhi Walla Books

The bookmarks have come. The books can’t be far behind. On 21 September, The Delhi Walla received an e-mail from his editor at HarperCollins India, which is publishing his first books, a series on Delhi called… well, The Delhi Walla. The first copies will come off the press by 22 September. It will take one more week for them to hit the stores.

Finally, I’ll see myself in Khan Market bookshelves. But will you buy me? Will the books sell? Will they be looking good? Could the photographs have been better? Will the text read well? Could I have written better?

Every new day I read new books, meet new people and visit new places. My world-view changes daily. Today is not the same as yesterday. If I write about a subject on which I had written earlier, the finished piece would not be the same. That’s why I want to change a few lines in the books, actually entire passages… but the books are already printed.

But I’m told that I should not be nervous. The entire team at HarperCollins is said to be very excited about The Delhi Walla series. A few friends, who have seen the proofs, say, “I will arrive”. What if I don’t ‘arrive’? But I must keep writing. That’s what matters.

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19 Responses

Neha · September 22, 2010 at 12:43:19 · →

Seeing this post brought a smile on my face. I had started reading your blog in 2008 and since then I have been following it. I have read so many of your blog posts but never commented, just wanna say that I am very happy your books are coming out. All the best. And for sure I and many others are looking forward to buy your books.

desiderata · September 22, 2010 at 12:49:27 · →

“You will arrive” means “you are destined to do a QnA session at next year’s Jaipur Literature festival”. A panellist, at the very least.

Regular reader of your blog · September 22, 2010 at 14:52:09 · →

I would have bought all three but since I have seen/read all of your blogposts I may buy one or two.

Peter Saal · September 22, 2010 at 16:11:00 · →

When will we see the “Austin-esque” novel? At least you’ve gotten your foot in the door of the publishing world… Congratulations!

Sarah · September 22, 2010 at 17:19:05 · →

Congratulations, Delhi walla!

Although I have not read many of ur posts, as I have only recently been introduced to ur work by an admirer of yours, I m happy for u:)

M a big fan of yours Mayank, try to read almost everything by you, you know you have already arrived, eagerly waiting for all ur books!!!

Wajid · September 22, 2010 at 22:54:50 · →

Hey Mayank,

Congratulations!!!

Don’t worry everything will be good and they will be a great success. But tell us when and where the ceremony is going to be held.

gutterflower · September 23, 2010 at 01:49:40 · →

Very cool! Can’t wait for the books. Came across your blog a while back when preparing for my move to Delhi from Sri Lanka. Moved to Delhi a few months ago and its still been immensely useful in figuring out places to visit and things to do.

Good luck with everything – hope the book promotions and the launch go smoothly.

Vishal · September 23, 2010 at 09:44:23 · →

Well done and congratulations MAS. As a fan and regular reader, to me you have already arrived, its just that this book will make your arrive in bigger and nosier way. Please do stay as grounded, humble and accessible as you are now.

Cheers mate!
Vishal

Kumar · September 23, 2010 at 15:26:44 · →

Hi Mayank
Best wishes from the irregular reader but for sure i will buy ur books.

Shez · September 23, 2010 at 16:58:05 · →

Congrats. You have certainly ‘arrived’ in the literary scene. I hope the books sell in large numbers.

binu · September 23, 2010 at 23:29:27 · →

congratulation mayank, waiting to read ur book.

Priya · September 24, 2010 at 12:06:06 · →

Your ‘arrival’ will be a knockout once you get a fancy Facebook page to connect with your ever-increasing fanbase.

Nayantara · September 24, 2010 at 20:49:17 · →

That makes it one, two, three….fourteen and 1 on my part..
There! 15 sets are already sold Mayank, why do you have to be so anxious? Chillax!!!

Nayantara · September 24, 2010 at 20:53:40 · →

P.S.
Everyone’s on for the big bang arrival, dude we want a celebration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

three great things happening in Delhi right now | Our Delhi Struggle · September 25, 2010 at 23:22:53 · →

[…] First is the release of Mayank Austen Soofi’s three books this week. Writing as The Delhi Walla, Mayank is the best Delhi blogger in the business. He’s […]

On The Delhi Walla

The blogger is a devotee of Sufi Saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and Author Arundhati Roy

The Caravan

“The Delhi Walla is one of the city’s best-known flâneurs.”

Time Out Delhi

“The Delhi Walla is a one-man encyclopedia of the city.”

The Guardian

“The Delhi Walla is a celebration of the food, culture and books of India’s capital.”

Biography of The Delhi Walla

Since 2007, Mayank Austen Soofi has been collecting hundreds of stories taking place in Delhi, through writing and photography, for his acclaimed website The Delhi Walla. Every day, Mayank walks around the city with his camera and notebook to track down the part of extraordinary that exists in the seemingly mundane aspects of urban lives. By exploring and documenting the streets, buildings, houses, cuisines, traditions and people of Delhi, his work is also an attempt to give the megalopolis an intimate voice, and to capture the passing of time in this otherwise restlessly changing city.

Mayank is also a daily columnist for Hindustan Times newspaper, and the author of ‘Nobody Can Love You More: Life in Delhi’s Red Light District’ (published by Penguin) and the four-volume ‘The Delhi Walla’ guidebooks (HarperCollins).